Light emitting microcapsule, method of preparing the same and oled display device comprising the same

ABSTRACT

The present invention, which belongs to the technical field of display technology, provides a microcapsule, a method of preparing the same, and an OLED (organic light emitting diode) display device comprising the same. The OLED display device comprises a microcapsule having a phosphorescent material as a core material, which reduces the probability of the phosphorescence self-quenching and is isolated from water and oxygen, thereby improving the display quality and extending the service life of the OLED display device. Therefore, the OLED display device can solve the problem that the phosphorescence OLED display device in the prior art has a low brightness and short service life.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the technical field of displaytechnology. More particularly, the present invention relates to a lightemitting microcapsule, a method of preparing the same, and an OLED(organic light emitting diode) display device comprising the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The research of OLED devices has been developed comprehensively andthoroughly since the light emitting phenomena of organic molecules wasdiscovered by Professor Qingyun Deng. OLED devices have been widelyapplied in the field of display technology because these devices haveadvantages of high efficiency, low power consumption, wide color gamutand the like. Based on the light emitting material, OLED can besubstantially classified into two kinds, one comprising fluorescentmaterial and the other comprising phosphorescent material. Moreattention has been paid to the phosphorescent material due to its highinternal quantum efficiency.

However, the phosphorescent material tends to experience self-quenchingfor the triplet state of molecular excitation. Especially in the case ofhigh current density, the phosphorescence material is more easily tosuffer from a loss as a result of the self-quenching, thereby reducingthe lightness of a phosphorescent OLED.

In addition, although the research and development techniques of thephosphorescent OLED devices has been relatively mature at a laboratorylevel, but there still exists some problems in practical, for example,the life of a phosphorescent OLED device is susceptible to theenvironment. It is well known that the phosphorescent OLED device isextremely susceptible to moisture and oxygen, especially the moisture.If the moisture permeates into the device, a dark spot in thelight-emitting region, which will expand over time, is easily caused,thereby affecting the display quality and the life of the device.Currently, the occurrence and expanding of the black spots wereprevented mainly by encapsulating the phosphorescent OLED devices.Encapsulation technology mainly includes cover plate encapsulationtechnology such as metal cover plate encapsulation technology and glasscover plate encapsulation technology and the like, and filmencapsulation technology represented by Barix film encapsulation layer(developed by Vitex Systems Company). However, for these prior art,there are disadvantages such as surface irregularities (such as in thecase of metal cover plate encapsulation) and occurrence of microcracks(such as in the case of glass cover plate encapsulation), as well ashigh-costs and the complicated production process (such as in the caseof Barix thin film encapsulation).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to provide a light emittingmicrocapsule with improved lightness and prolonged life, and an OLEDdisplay device comprising this microcapsule, so as to solve the problemthat the phosphorescent material in the light emitting layer of an OLEDdisplay device in the prior art tends to experience molecules quenching,thereby affecting the lightness; and the OLED display device issusceptible to moisture and oxygen, thereby forming black spots.

The above technical problem of the present invention can be solved bythe microcapsule according to the present invention, which comprises awall material and a core material encapsulated in the wall material. Thecore material is a phosphorescent material including (but not limitedto) heavy metal complexes, such as Ir complexes, Pt complexes; rareearth metal complexes, such as Eu complexes, Tb complexes; other metalcomplexes, such as Cu complexes; or polymer comprisingelectroluminescence phosphorescent organometallic complexes. The wallmaterial is a wall material capable of encapsulating the phosphorescentmaterial. Furthermore, the wall material also has the effect to preventmoisture and/or oxygen in environment from permeating into the corematerial, and allow each microcapsule phosphorescent material isolatedfrom each another so that the molecules quenching phenomenon can beavoided by preventing the aggregation of phosphorescent material. Thewall material should have a transmittance greater than 90%, a moisturepermeability less than 1 μg/(m²·day), an oxygen permeability less than 1mg/(m²·day). The wall material includes (but are not limited to) naturalpolymeric material, such as gelatin, arabic gum, shellac, lac, starch,dextrin, wax, rosin, sodium alginate, zein, and the like; semi-syntheticpolymer material, such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose,carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl ethyl cellulose; full-syntheticpolymer material, such as polyolefins, polystyrenes, polyethers,polyureas, polyethylene glycol, polyamide, polyurethane, polyacrylate,epoxy resins and the like.

Preferably, the microcapsule has a particle size in a range of 0.5-200μm.

Preferably, the phosphorescent material has a particle size in a rangeof 0.1-20 nm.

Preferably, the wall material is selected from any one of gelatin, ethylcellulose and arabic gum.

The present invention also provides a method for preparing saidmicrocapsules, wherein the phosphorescent material as a core material iswrapped in a suitable wall material to form the microcapsules. Dependingon the kind of a wall material, a suitable method can be chosen forwrapping a wall material on a core material. The method for wrapping acore material includes, but are not limited to, chemical methods such asinterfacial polymerization, in situ polymerization, molecularencapsulation, radiation encapsulation; physicochemical methods such asaqueous phase separation, oil phase separation, capsule-heart exchange,pressing, piercing, powder bed method; and physical methods, such asspray drying, spray freezing, air suspension, vacuum evaporationdeposition, complex coacervation, long and short centrifugation.

Preferably, the wall material is wrapped on the core material bycoacervation when any one of gelatin, ethyl cellulose and arabic gum isused as the wall material, thereby obtaining the above microcapsules.

The present invention also provides an OLED display device whichcomprises a light emitting material layer comprising the above-describedmicrocapsules.

Preferably, the OLED display device further includes an electrontransport layer, an electron injection layer and a cathode layer whichare disposed sequentially on one side of the light emitting materiallayer; and a hole transport layer, a hole injection layer and a anodelayer which are disposed sequentially on the other side of the lightemitting material layer.

Preferably, the OLED display device further includes a thin film layerfor encapsulation which is disposed on the side of the cathode oppositeto the light emitting layer. Preferably, said thin film layer comprisesa aluminum complex having the following molecular structure:

wherein R is alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl and the like.

In the present invention, phosphorescent material is microencapsulatedso that the phosphorescent materials in adjacent microcapsules do notcontact each other, and the amount of the phosphorescent material withineach microcapsule is relatively small, thereby effectively reducing thequenching probability of the phosphorescence material due to themolecular stacking thereof, and further avoiding the phosphorescencelosses due to the phosphorescence quenching and improving the lightnessof phosphorescent OLED display device. Moreover, the phosphorescentmaterial is wrapped in the microcapsule, and this effectively preventsthe permeation of the moisture and/or oxygen in the environment, therebyreducing the probability of the reaction of the moisture and/or oxygenwith the phosphorescent light emitting material, and further effectivelyextending the life of the phosphorescent material as well as improvingthe life of the phosphorescent OLED display device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of the microcapsule provided inan embodiment according to the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of an OLED display device providedin an embodiment according to the present invention,

wherein:

-   -   1. Microcapsules; 2. Phosphorescent material; 3. Base substrate;        4. Anode layer; 5. Hole injection layer; 6. Hole transport        layer; 7. Light emitting material layer; 8. Electron transport        layer; 9. Electron injection layer; 10. Cathode layer; 11. Thin        film layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying figures, so that a person skilled in theart can get a better understanding of the technical solutions of theinvention.

Preparation of Microcapsules

As shown in FIG. 1, this embodiment provides a microcapsule 1 comprisinga wall material and a core material, wherein the core material isphosphorescent material 2 and the wall material is a wall materialcapable of encapsulating the phosphorescent material.

Said phosphorescent material 2 can be a complex of iridium, such as agreen phosphorescent material of Ir(ppy)₃, a blue phosphorescentmaterial of FCNIr, a red phosphorescent material of Ir(pq)₂acac and thelike, with the molecular structures shown below:

It should be understood that any of the phosphorescent materials in theprior art can be used as a core material of the microcapsules.

Preferably, the phosphorescent material 2 has a particle size in a rangeof 0.1 to 20 nm. Of course, the particle size of the phosphorescentmaterial 2 can be smaller or larger based on the requirements of theencapsulating or the applications.

Preferably, the microcapsule 1 has a particle size in a range of 0.5 to200 μm. Of course, the particle size of the microcapsule 1 can besmaller or larger based on the requirements of the encapsulating or theapplications.

Preferably, the wall material is any one of gelatin, ethyl cellulose andarabic gum. Coacervation is suitable for preparing the microcapsules 1from these wall materials.

The above-described microcapsules can be prepared by coacervation, whichcomprises the following steps (taking gelatin as an example):

-   -   dissolving the gelatin into n-hexane in a water bath at 50° C.        to obtain a 6% gelatin solution; if necessary, the gelatin may        be swelled with deionized water before the preparation of the        gelatin solution;    -   Adding the green phosphorescent material of Ir(ppy)₃ powder        having an average particle size of about 15 nm into the gelatin        solution under stirring to form a emulsified dispersion system,        adjusting the system with 10% acetic acid solution to pH 3.5-3.8        (preferably pH 3.5), and then slowly adding 20% sodium sulfate        solution into the dispersion system while keeping the        temperature thereof at 50° C.;    -   Decreasing the temperature of the dispersion system to 15° C.,        and allowing the gelatin wrap the green phosphorescent material        of Ir(ppy)₃ powder as core material to form the microcapsule 1.

The obtained microcapsule has a particle size in a range of 1 μm to 50μm.

It should be understood that other methods in the prior art, such asinterfacial polymerization, may also be adopted for preparing themicrocapsules 1. Accordingly, other materials besides the materialdescribed above can also be used as the wall material. Because themicroencapsulation technology has been very mature, there is no need todescribe other technologies in the prior art for preparing microcapsulesfrom the core material of a phosphorescent material.

Preparation of OLED Display Device

As shown in FIG. 2, this embodiment provides an OLED display device. TheOLED display device may be a phosphorescent white OLED display devicewith a top emitting structure which comprises a base substrate 3, ananode layer 4, a hole injection layer 5, a hole transport layer 6, alight emitting material layer 7, an electron transport layer 8, anelectron injection layer 9, a cathode layer 10 and a thin film layer forencapsulation 11.

The light emitting material layer 7 adopts a microencapsulatedphosphorescent material.

The method for preparing an OLED display device of this embodimentcomprises the steps of:

Preparation of Anode Layer 4

The anode layer 4 is deposited on the substrate 3 using indium tin oxidelayer (ITO) which is a high work function material. Transparent carbonnanotubes (CNTs) and other materials may also be used as the anodelayer. As for the material of the base substrate 3, glass is preferablyused and other transparent materials such as plastic may also be used.The ITO anode layer may be obtained as an ITO thin film deposited on theglass substrate by vacuum magnetron sputtering which belongs to theprior art and do not need to be repeated herein.

Preparation of Hole Injection Layer 5

The hole injection layer 5 is deposited on the anode layer 4 by vacuumthermal evaporation deposition which belongs to the prior art and do notneed to be repeated herein. The material forming the hole injectionlayer 5 may be copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) having a good hole injectioncapability, which is represented by the following molecular structure:

Preparation of Hole Transport Layer 6

The hole transport layer 6 is deposited on the hole injection layer 5 byvacuum thermal evaporation deposition. The material forming the holetransport layer 6 may be TCTA having a good hole transport capabilitywhich is represented by the following molecular structure:

Preparation of Light Emitting Material Layer 7

The light emitting material layer 7 is deposited on the hole transportlayer 6 by vacuum thermal evaporation deposition. The light emittingmaterial layer 7 includes a primary light emitting layer and theauxiliary light emitting layer, wherein the primary layer is ahybrid-type light emitting layer formed by co-doping microencapsulatedgreen phosphorescent material of Ir(ppy)₃ and microencapsulated redphosphorescent material of Ir(pq)₂acac with TCTA and TAZ; the auxiliarylight emitting layer is formed by doping microencapsulated bluephosphorescent material of FCNIr with mCP. The molecular structures ofTAZ and mCP are as follows:

According to the principle of colorimetry, the red, green, and bluelight-emitting materials can be mixed in the same one light-emittinglayer so as to generate white light by color mixing.

Preparation of Electron Transport Layer 8

The electron transport layer 8 is deposited on the light emittingmaterial layer 7 by vacuum thermal evaporation deposition. The materialfor the electron transport layer 8 may be aluminum quinolinate (Alq3)having a good electron transport capability. The molecular structure ofaluminum quinolinate is as follows:

Preparation of Electron Injection Layer 9:

The electron transport layer 9 is deposited on the electron transportlayer 8 by vacuum thermal evaporation deposition. The material for theelectron transport layer 9 may be a low work function material such aslithium fluoride (LiF) that has a good capability of electron injection.

Preparation of Cathode Layer 10

An Mg/Al cathode layer 10 having low resistance is deposited on theelectron injection layer 9 by vacuum thermal evaporation deposition. Avoltage is applied between the cathode layer 10 and the anode layer 4 byan external circuit. The electrons injected by the cathode and the holesinjected by the anode meet in the light emitting layer and thus generateexcitons, thereby exciting the light emitting material to emit light.

Thin Film Encapsulation

After preparing the phosphorescent OLED device, an encapsulating filmlayer 11 is formed on the phosphorescent OLED display device. At first ahydrocarbon solution containing the aluminum-based complex is rapidlyevaporated and it is condensed on the substrate in the form of liquidunder a vacuum environment, then the obtained film is dried; so that theentire phosphorescent OLED structure is completely sealed andplanarized. The aluminum complex has a molecular structure as follows:

wherein R is an alkyl group such as methyl, ethyl, propyl and the like.

It should be understood that the encapsulating film layer 11 can alsoadopt other compounds capable of isolating water and oxygen, such assilicon-oxygen compounds, silicon-nitrogen compounds, polyethylene andthe like.

By performing tests, compared with the OLED device using aphosphorescent material in the prior art, such as LG 55EA9800-CA 55 inchOLED smart 3D network TV, the above OLED display device using thephosphorescent microcapsules of the present invention as thelight-emitting layer material has a brightness improved by 20% to 50%and a service life extended by 30% to 60%.

It can be seen that, for the light emitting microcapsule of the presentinvention, the phosphorescent materials in the adjacent microcapsules donot contact with each other due to the encapsulation of thephosphorescent material into microcapsules; and the phosphorescentmaterials are dispersedly distributed in each microcapsules, whichlowers the probability of the molecules stacking generated by thecontaction between the phosphorescent material molecules, and thus theprobability of the phosphorescence self-quenching induced thereby can bereduced and the phosphorescence emission efficiency can be improved,resulting in a higher display brightness of the display device.

Meanwhile, since the phosphorescent materials are encapsulated inmicrocapsules, thus chemical reactions of the phosphorescent materialwith water and oxygen can be effectively reduced so that the adverseeffects such as dark spots in the light emitting region can be avoided,and the display quality and life can be improved accordingly.

In summary, the microcapsules according to the present invention canimprove the display brightness of a phosphorescent OLED display deviceand extend the service life of a phosphorescent OLED display device.

It is understood that the present invention is not limited to theabove-illustrated embodiments, which were chosen and described in orderto best explain the principles of the invention. Those skilled in theart can make various modifications or variations without departing fromthe spirit and essence of the present invention. It is intended that thescope of the invention be defined by the following claims and theirequivalents.

1. A microcapsule, comprising a wall material and a core materialencapsulated in the wall material, wherein the core material is aphosphorescent material, and the wall material is a wall materialcapable of encapsulating the phosphorescent material.
 2. Themicrocapsule according to claim 1, wherein the microcapsule has aparticle size in a range of 0.5-200 μm.
 3. The microcapsule according toclaim 1, wherein the phosphorescent material has a particle size in arange of 0.1-20 nm.
 4. The microcapsule according to claim 1, whereinthe wall material has a transmittance greater than 90%, a moisturepermeability less than 1 μg/(m²·day), an oxygen permeability less than 1mg/(m²·day).
 5. The microcapsule according to claim 4, wherein the wallmaterial is selected from any one of gelatin, ethyl cellulose and arabicgum.
 6. A method for preparing a microcapsule comprising a wall materialand a core material encapsulated in the wall material, wherein the corematerial is a phosphorescent material, and the wall material is a wallmaterial capable of encapsulating the phosphorescent material, whereinthe phosphorescent material as a core material is wrapped in a wallmaterial to form the microcapsules.
 7. A method according to claim 6,wherein the phosphorescent material as a core material is wrapped in thewall material selected from any one of gelatin, ethyl cellulose andarabic gum by coacervation.
 8. An OLED display device including a lightemitting material layer, wherein the light emitting material layercomprises a microcapsule comprising a wall material and a core materialencapsulated in the wall material, wherein the core material is aphosphorescent material, and the wall material is a wall materialcapable of encapsulating the phosphorescent material.
 9. The OLEDdisplay device according to claim 8, further including an electrontransport layer, an electron injection layer and a cathode layer whichare disposed sequentially on one side of the light emitting materiallayer, and a hole transport layer, a hole injection layer and a anodelayer which are disposed sequentially on the other side of the lightemitting material layer.
 10. The OLED display device according to claim9, further including a thin film layer for encapsulation which isdisposed on the side of the cathode opposite to the light emittinglayer.
 11. The OLED display device according to claim 10, wherein thethin film layer comprises an aluminum-based complex having the followingmolecular structure:

wherein R is alkyl.